Management of Hypertension

In brief

Current recommendations for brief managing mild to very severe high blood pressure need to be adapted for the special concerns of physically active patients. First-line treatment involves dietary changes, smoking cessation, and aerobic exercise. The next step is to add drug therapy, and diuretics and beta-blockers are the initial drugs of choice because of their proven long-term efficacy. Diuretics may, however, produce hypokalemia or dehydration, and beta- blockers may cause hyperkalemia, reduce exercise capacity, or increase perceived exertion. Other antihypertensive agents may be preferable in specific situations.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeffrey L. Tanji

Dr Tanji is the director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship and an associate professor in the Department of Family Practice at the University of California, Davis in Sacramento. He is a founding member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, and a member of the editorial board of THE PHYSICIAN AND SPORTSMEDICINE.

Mark E. Batt

Dr Batt is the director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Clinic at the University of California, Davis and an assistant team physician at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a member of the British Association of Sports Medicine and a charter member of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine.